Lord Tebbit urges by-election voters to back UKIP in attempt to derail Lib Dems

By TIM SHIPMAN
Updated: 19:10 EST, 8 January 2011

Derail: Lord Tebbit is concerned that the Conservative alliance with the Lib Dems is compromising their political leanings

Tory grandee Lord Tebbit has called for voters to back the UK Independence Party in the Oldham by-election in a bid to push the Lib Dems into fourth place.

The former cabinet minister sought to derail David Cameron’s tacit deal to help the Lib Dems win the seat from Labour. He warned that a victory for Nick Clegg’s party would push the Coalition further to the left.

In a statement on UKIP’s website, Lord Tebbit said: ‘Of course, as one who believes that the people of this kingdom should govern themselves, I have an instinctive sympathy with the UKIP candidate and I hope that at the very least he puts the Lib Dems into fourth place.

‘A Lib Dem win would tilt the coalition even farther left and away from Conservative policies.

‘A Labour win would give the wild men of the TUC great encouragement to launch a campaign to usurp the Government by a campaign of industrial action.’

Lord Tebbit’s intervention was potentially embarrassing since it came as the Prime Minister made his only campaign trip to the constituency of Oldham East and Saddleworth, where voters go to the polls next Thursday.

The by-election was called after Labour MP Phil Woolas was stripped of his seat. He had been caught lying about his opponent during the general election.

Too close for comfort: The Lib Dems are the main challengers in the Oldham by-election but Mr Clegg’s (left) unpopularity after his party’s u-turn on university tuition fees has created fears that they might drop behind the Tories. David Cameron's aides have declined to comment on Lord Tebbit's comments

The Lib Dems are the main challengers but Mr Clegg’s unpopularity after his party’s U-turn on tuition fees has created fears in senior government circles that they might drop behind the Tories.

Mr Cameron denied the Tories were giving their Coalition partners a clear run. He said: ‘If we get the most votes, we can win. Obviously we start in third place. We’re fighting a proper campaign.’

Mr Cameron’s aides declined to comment on Lord Tebbit’s remarks. A Tory spokesman said only: ‘We are fighting to win every vote which is why the Prime Minister was up in Oldham today.’